Since she arrived as a freshman, Celina VanHyfte has helped put Annawan Bravettes basketball on the state map.

There’s one destination on that map, however, that’s escaped the team.

“Celina and I have spent all of her varsity games together. We have beaten some high-ranked teams in multiple classes and have some great games filed away in our memories,” said Annawan coach Jason Burkiewicz. “It's been a lot of fun and the only thing missing is a trip to Redbird.”

“It would mean the world to us,” said VanHyfte of playing at ISU’s Redbird Arena later this month.

VanHyfte and the Bravettes will try to fill that state tournament void starting next week as they host a regional featuring talented conference rivals Wethersfield and Stark County.

To date in her junior season, VanHyfte has guided the Bravettes through a 24-2 campaign that’s featured winning the Temple’s Tip-Off Classic in Geneseo, placing fourth in the State Farm Holiday Classic, and sweeping the Lincoln Trail Conference tournament and regular-season titles. She’s averaged 23.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and more than a block per game as Annawan sits at No. 2 in Class 1A heading into the postseason.

She’s put up all those glitzy numbers while being the focus of opposing defenses every night.

“She is obviously going to draw extra attention on a nightly basis,” said Burkiewicz of VanHyfte, who earned first team all-state honors her sophomore season. “I've even seen teams throw three girls on her, therefore I'm assuming the opposing coach is going in with the mindset of somebody besides Celina has to beat us. The good thing is we have provided that protection all season and other players are capable of doing some scoring for us.”

“I just go out and give 100 percent no matter what they throw at me,” said VanHyfte. “Sometimes I just hang back and let my teammates take care of the scoring. Then that frees me up later in the game.”

The Annawan coach said VanHyfte usually lets her play do the talking in practice and during games. “Celina is not a huge vocal leader. However, she is not afraid of any situation and always believes we will come out on top of every game,” said Burkiewicz. “She basically looks at her teammates when it's her turn to speak and tells the girls that we are a great team that knows how to play basketball, so let's just go play the game like we know how to.”

Annawan basketball is a family affair for VanHyfte, with her freshman sister Morgan playing varsity minutes and her mother Val in her second season as an assistant coach.

Page 2 of 2 - “Obviously I have to pick on her a little bit,” said Celina of her little sister. “She has developed her game really well and I’ve been surprised at how well she’s playing for a freshman.”

“Celina is really happy to see Morgan join the team this year and they work well together,” said Burkiewicz. “Most of the time the relationship is good with mom on the bench as well, but we all know how the mother-daughter relationship can cause some heated moments. Usually when it gets to that point, Val just steps back and says, ‘Burk, talk to her.’"

The Bravettes nearly made the trip to state last season, falling to LeRoy 56-53 in the Illinois Wesleyan Super-Sectional. VanHyfte and Megan Foes were the two returning players that logged significant time on last year’s team, and felt the sting of narrowly missing the Final Four.

“My main focus coming into this season was how will this group play under pressure,” said Burkiewicz. “What I was able to see in the State Farm Classic showed me this group does not get rattled. I see this group being as tough as any group we have ever had when the pressure will be on.”

“Because we did so well last year, that sets the bar a little higher this year,” said VanHyfte. “Everybody is excited. The team is excited and we’re ready to play as hard as we can.”

Entering next week’s regional, VanHyfte’s teams have compiled a record of 76-10 and she’s scored 1,735 points in the process. Just five more wins stand between the Bravettes and their ultimate goal.

“No Annawan girls team has ever gone to state,” said VanHyfte. “It would be the most amazing feeling to know we accomplished something no other Annawan team has before.”

More about Celina VanHyfte

Favorite Meal — “My mom’s homemade lasagna.”

Favorite TV Show — House

Favorite Movie — Think Like a Man

Favorite School Subject — English

School Activities — Basketball, softball, cross country and Student Council.